Parker, Ginobili hurt — so does Spurs’ brain

Earlier this week Gregg Popovich was talking about trying a George Hill-Tony Parker backcourt, and he listed several reasons.

Athletic ability was one. Athletic ability might have been two.

But there was something else.

Popovich said using two point guards “makes a team a little smarter. There’s a possibility your team might make better decisions, might be a better passing team on the fast break, things like that.”

So, when Parker couldn’t play Wednesday, that’s likely one of two reasons Popovich gave Manu Ginobili his first start of the season. Popovich wanted Ginobili to begin the game while he was still warm, because of Ginobili’s tight hamstring, and he wanted another player with the same kind of point-guard skills next to Hill.

And when Ginobili had to sit down less than eight minutes into the game? Popovich’s idea of two point guards had been reduced to Hill, who is still learning the position.

Dallas had its own injury problems, but it wasn’t at point guard. At times Rick Carlisle used Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and J.J. Barea together. The Spurs could adapt defensively, since Michael Finley could hang with Kidd at this stage of their careers.

But, on the other end, the Spurs struggled to run their offense. A costly Richard Jefferson turnover at the end of regulation was one indication, and Tim Duncan leading the Spurs in assists was another.

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As for Ginobili, who has gone from a tight hamstring to a groin pull already this season: Little wonder he’s frustrated. But he doesn’t have pain from his 2008 ankle surgery, or a relapse from the stress fracture that happened last season. Furthermore, he’s not afflicted with the traumatic injuries, such as knee or lower-back issues, that end careers.

So is he breaking down because of years of basketball? Or would these consecutive injuries, which are probably related, be seen differently had they happened to someone else?